Eating that causes dizziness and headaches to develop may be a sign of a reaction to one or more foods you are consuming. Dizziness and headaches are both signs of anaphylaxis, a severe whole-body allergic reaction that potentially could cause life-threatening symptoms. Every food you eat contains proteins unique to that specific food that could cause an allergic reaction if your immune system reacts to the proteins as dangerous substances.
Dizziness and Headache
During anaphylaxis, tissues throughout your body become restricted and swollen because of increased levels of histamine and other chemicals present. Your cardiovascular system is responsible for dizziness and headaches from a food allergy. Your blood pressure drops suddenly, causing lightheadedness, dizziness, a rapid heart rate, faint pulse and minor-to-severe headaches. Anaphylaxis may also cause the inability to breathe, which could cause death, if not treated.
Food Allergies
Food allergies are mostly found in young children and affect only about two percent of the adult population, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. It is very rare that a food allergy would cause anaphylaxis but it is always a consideration. The most common foods that trigger allergic reactions in most people include soy, fish, peanuts, milk, wheat, eggs and tree nuts. Other less common food allergens may include corn, tomatoes, melons, pineapples, tropical fruits and strawberries. Some food additives may cause an allergic reaction, such as preservatives, dyes and thickeners.
Treatment
At the first sign of anaphylaxis, you need to call your doctor or 911, if your doctor is unreachable. If your body is experiencing anaphylactic shock, an injection of epinephrine will be required to alleviate your symptoms. If you were previously diagnosed with a severe food allergy, your doctor will prescribe an epinephrine pen for you to carry at all times. During an emergency, you will inject the medication, call 911 and head to the emergency room.
Prevention
The most effective way to prevent dizziness and headaches from eating is to implement an elimination diet. Allergy tests will identify the food proteins to which you are allergic, providing you with a list of foods to avoid. For example, if you have a fish allergy, you will need to remove all fish products from your diet, such as fish oil supplements, gelatin and imitation crab meat. There is no cure for food allergies except completely avoiding the foods that trigger your symptoms.
